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Author Biography

Hilde Alder was born in Germany, grew up in New York City, and has lived in Madison, Wisconsin since she was married (which was a long time ago). She's been a physical education teacher, a librarian, a freelance photographer, and a number of other things. She now lives in a retirement community with her husband, Julius, and a whole lot of other smart, savvy seniors. I Am NOT Old Enough! is her second book.

Book Review

Reviewed by Bruce Arrington for Readers' Favorite

I Am Not Old Enough! The Twenty-Seven Stages of Adjustment to Living in a Retirement Community, by Hilde Adler, is a short book and a unique read. It is written from the viewpoint of someone completely resisting anything to do with retirement community living and provides much of the rationale that people have when faced with this life change. Like the five stages of grief or loss, the book describes the realistic steps people go through when faced with this new reality: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. But instead of tackling each stage with long and drawn out research into the human psyche, the book takes the form of our rebel selves. It simply goes through the stages, and we gradually find that life does go on and can still be enjoyed.

I appreciate the frank humor that is used. Down to earth, listing the nitty gritty annoyances and excuses that many people have when faced with this life change, the book also goes on to balance itself out with the viewpoint taking into consideration the other side of the equation. It strives to bring a balance to the thought process and, again, using generous doses of humor. I Am Not Old Enough! is a quick read that will be a source of comfort to anyone who is or will be faced with a life change such as this. It helps the reader put down the guards, knowing that there is a sense of worth to the entire process. Highly recommended.